Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai, Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara Subramaniam, and others were arrested by the DMK government in Coimbatore on the evening of 20th December 2024 while leading a protest against certain political outfits accused of glorifying the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blast convict SA Basha. After a brief detention, they were released, however, the protest by nationalists has exposed the deep nexus between terrorist sympathisers and politicains of the state.
The protest rally, supported by various Hindu organisations, demanded accountability from the government for allegedly glorifying individuals responsible for the loss of 58 lives in the devastating terror attack. Despite the short notice for the protest, the rally witnessed several thousand participants.
During the protest, Annamalai stated: “Coimbatore is a peace-loving city that suffered a devastating attack in 1998. To glorify a terrorist is an insult to the victims and their families. We demand accountability from the state government.”
K Annamalai, addressing the crowd, stated, “Coimbatore is a peace-loving city that suffered a devastating attack in 1998. To glorify a terrorist is an insult to the victims and their families. We demand accountability from the state government.”
He said: “I am telling you the truth. A terrorist and suicide bomber, as per the plan, was driving a car with explosives. While navigating a speed breaker, it exploded. However, the TN CM and police claimed it was a cylinder blast. The actual plan involved a nine-member gang. Their intent was to detonate the bomb in a highly crowded area in front of a popular textile showroom where the crowd is large. Unfortunately, the CM and police disrespected public intelligence by denying it was a suicide attack.”
Annamalai further elaborated: “In February 2022, in the Sathyamangalam forest area, Mubeen, a self-styled ISIS operative and suicide bomber, as an act of revenge against Kafirs or non-believers of Islam was among them who attended a meeting led by Umar Farooq along with eight others. In this meeting, it was decided that the first attack would be carried out by Mubeen in front of a textile showroom to damage its pillars, causing the entire building to collapse and resulting in numerous deaths. The second attack was planned at the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner’s office.”
He quipped, “The state intelligence and police—I’m sorry, as a former police officer—did not have any inkling of the plot in the forest. You are functioning extremely well.” (This was repeated sarcastically three times.) The crowd responded with chants of “Shame.” Umar Farooq said after the liquidation of sandal smuggler Veerappan the forest has come to us. It is our Illakka (our area). We will rule it. The 8 persons made him as Ameer (Islamic Ruler) of the area and they conducted secret Bayaans (allegiance).
In post on X, Aravinth Easwaran stated: “Absolutely spine chilling facts revealed by Thalaivar Annamalai. Fortunately, the bomb exploded prematurely, the most shocking factor is MK Stalin govt’s attempts to cover it up by not declaring this as terrorist attack. In fact, one DMK leader even claimed the terrorist would’ve procured the bomb making chemicals for agricultural purpose. Appeasement politics at the cost of innocent people’s lives!!!
Annamalai said Mubin was tasked with procuring materials to make bombs. In August 2022, he bought nearly 750 kg of ammonium nitrate. If you add sulphur, it will explode. They had planned to carry out seven attacks in the state, including one in Coimbatore. Had the second attack occurred, not only the police commissioner but also his staff and other policemen would have died.
So, I am telling my dear police personnel: understand the reality the city is facing. We, the BJP, were the first to say it was a suicide bomb attack. We will soon release a seven-minute video explaining how the killing of kafirs was instructed to the eight men. Bayaan means dedicating your life to the Prophet and becoming a suicide bomber targeting non-believers of Islam.
Mubin had described the locations to be attacked in a paper. However, the police ignored all this evidence. The NIA has so far arrested 18 terrorists in connection with the October 2022 Coimbatore bomb blast case. The case is currently being investigated by the NIA, which has filed four charge sheets in court.
We have appealed to Home Minister Amit Shah to open an NIA office in Coimbatore. He responded positively, and now we have an office here.
The BJP chief took a swipe at Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Sebastian Seeman, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder Thol Thirumavalavan, his deputy Vanniarasu, former MLA Thaniarasu, and leaders of a few others for portraying S.A. Basha as a ‘martyr’. He said these leaders were singing paeans to the blast convict to garner votes from the minority community.
Annamalai said, “Seeman referred to the Coimbatore bomb blast convict as ‘Father’, and VCK leader Thirumavalavan called him a ‘martyr’. No one else begs for votes like this. I appeal to the voters of the state to reject such leaders and parties that support terrorists, disregarding the safety of lakhs of people and leaving lives at the mercy of terrorists, thereby destroying the peace of the city.”
Despite the widespread participation, the police did not grant permission for the rally, leading to the detention of K. Annamalai and other BJP leaders. Annamalai, along with other party members, was taken into custody during the procession. In response, Annamalai tweeted, condemning the police action and the government’s stance. However, they were released later that night.
Following the detention, the BJP announced its intention to intensify protests across the state. The party emphasised that its campaign is not only about holding the government accountable but also about honouring the memory of the victims.
In a video on Shree TV, YouTuber Bala Gowthaman said, “There was a clash between two groups in Mettupalayam on the 17th over a road rage issue. The traffic police had to intervene and found that the people in the car were returning after attending the funeral of S.A. Basha. The lorry, laden with potatoes, was also driven by Muslims. Despite police intervention, they did not stop their fight. When the police searched the car, they found various weapons hidden inside.
After this, both groups agreed to disperse as the proposed seizure of weapons would have caused trouble for them. Had they not been Muslims, the outcome might have been different. What was their plan? Why were they carrying sharp and deadly weapons? Who funded these people to attend Basha’s funeral? Who was behind the massive mobilisation of the Muslim crowd? Thankfully, the presence of a significant number of police officers thwarted their plan to stage a terror attack. Mettupalayam is known for the presence of terrorists.”
He said, “The seizure of arms from Muslim youths in Mettupalayam is shocking and serves as a warning that the shadow of terrorism is rising in the state, particularly in and around Coimbatore. It is a dangerous sign that needs to be addressed immediately.”
In Tirupur and other areas, a large number of Rohingya Muslims are reportedly working with fake documents.
Ramesh Kumar, a BJP functionary, stated that despite submitting a letter to the police requesting them not to permit the funeral, the police allowed it. He strongly asserted that allowing the procession signals a collapse of law and order in the city.
In response, the BJP announced plans to observe a day of mourning on Friday to highlight the “death of law and order” in Coimbatore.
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